Cavs grab Bennett at No. 1 in draft

NEW YORK — Anthony Bennett became the first Canadian No. 1 overall pick, and Nerlens Noel tumbled out of the top five and right into a trade in a surprising start to an unsettled NBA draft.

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By The Associated Press

recordonline.com

By The Associated Press

Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By The Associated Press
Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Knicks take Hardaway Jr.

The Knicks selected Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. with the 24th pick in the NBA draft.

Hardaway played three seasons for the Wolverines, leaving after a junior season in which he averaged ...

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Knicks take Hardaway Jr.

The Knicks selected Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. with the 24th pick in the NBA draft.

Hardaway played three seasons for the Wolverines, leaving after a junior season in which he averaged 14.5 points per game and helped Michigan reach the championship game of the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines lost to Louisville.

The pick got rave reviews and big cheers from the Knicks fans at Barclays Center - and a standing ovation from his coach. John Beilein was attending the draft with Michigan point guard Trey Burke, who was selected ninth overall by the Timberwolves.

Hardaway's father played in the NBA from 1989-2003, including five seasons with the Miami Heat when he was part of a heated rivalry with the Knicks.

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NEW YORK — Anthony Bennett became the first Canadian No. 1 overall pick, and Nerlens Noel tumbled out of the top five and right into a trade in a surprising start to an unsettled NBA draft.

One of the favorites to be taken first Thursday night, Noel fell to No. 6, where the New Orleans Pelicans took him and then dealt his rights to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package headlined by All-Star guard Jrue Holiday, according to a person familiar with the details.

The Cleveland Cavaliers started things by passing on centers Noel and Alex Len, who went to Phoenix at No. 5, in favor Bennett, the UNLV freshman forward who starred for Canada's junior national teams and was the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year.

"I'm just as surprised as anyone else," Bennett said.

There was suspense right until the end, either because the Cavs were unsure who they wanted or were trying to trade the pick. Most predictions had them taking one of the big men, with Noel largely considered the favorite for the No. 1 choice even after a torn ACL that ended his lone season at Kentucky in February.

"I thought everything was in the air, so I wasn't thinking I was the No. 1 pick," Noel said.

David Stern, booed heavily in his final draft as commissioner, added to the surprise of the moment by pausing slightly before announcing the Cavs' pick, their first at No. 1 since taking All-Star Kyrie Irving in 2011.

Orlando passed on both of the big men, too, going with Indiana swingman Victor Oladipo with the No. 2 pick. Washington took Otto Porter Jr. with the third pick, keeping the Georgetown star in town.

Ten years after the Cavaliers selected LeBron James to start a draft that would include future NBA championship teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the top five, this one lacked star power and perhaps even the promise of stardom.

Bennett, Noel and Len are all coming off injuries and couldn't even work out for teams, but the Cavs decided Bennett's shoulder surgery wasn't enough cause for concern.

Len walked up to meet Stern and collect his orange Suns hat, then sat down near the stage to put on the walking boot he needs for the stress fracture of his left ankle that was discovered after Maryland's season.

Noel finally went to New Orleans with the next pick. He didn't seem upset at his fall down the draft board, hugging his mother and shaking hands with Kentucky coach John Calipari.

It was a good start to the night for the Hoosiers, with Cody Zeller going two places after Oladipo to the Bobcats.

Kansas guard Ben McLemore, another player who was considered a potential top-three pick, also dropped, going seventh to Sacramento.

Headed by a lackluster class, the draft promised confusion and second-guessing, with no consensus No. 1 pick and little agreement among the order of the top five. And with lesser-known names in the draft, veterans soaked up the spotlight in the hours leading up to it.

Hosting the draft at Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets made the biggest news. A person with knowledge of the talks confirmed a Yahoo Sports report that the Nets and Celtics were working on a trade that would bring Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn.